Those who have visited Paris may associate Montparnasse with the unsightly Tour du Montparnasse and its surrounding garish Times Square-like environment. But the quartier where this apartment is located has nothing to do with that area of neon signs, fast food emporia and souvenir shops.

Quite the contrary. Situated at the corner of Boulevard du Montparnasse and rue Campagne-Première, just across from the 6th arrondissement, the apartment is in a neighborhood known for its elegance, tranquillity and interesting array of food shops, boutiques and famed restaurants and cafés (Le Dôme, Le Select and La Closerie des Lilas among them) whose legends go back to the early 1900s. The building is within a short walk of the Luxembourg Gardens, and is conveniently located for exploring the 6th arrondissement, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area and entire Left Bank.

The apartment is also well situated for exploring Paris and its environs. Within a short walk there are two Métro stations (Raspail and Vavin), and an RER station (Port Royal), where there is also a taxi stand. (RER is the high-speed rail system that connects Paris to its suburbs, thus putting Versailles and - should the spirit strike you - Disneyland Paris within easy reach.)

The floor plan of the apartment, which has 125m2 (about 1,345 sq. ft.) of living space, is in the shape of an L. The living room, formal dining room and study, which open from the foyer and the hallway leading to the main bedrooms, lie along the long part of the L, which overlooks boulevard du Montparnasse. From these rooms large French doors open to a balcony with a wrought-iron railing that runs along the façade of the building.

The living and dining rooms are each about 21m2 (226 sq. ft.), an ideal size for two couples or a small family. In the evening guests can enjoy cocktails in the living room, which has two sofas and a non-working marble fireplace with a gilded mirror, followed by dinner in the formal dining room, which has an attractive table that seats six comfortably. In the living room there is also a television with DVD (no VCR).

The bedrooms comprise the short part of the L. Both bedrooms have tall windows with white sheer drapes that overlook a quiet and sunny courtyard with trees. The windows also offer a view - typically Parisian - toward the sky over the mansard rooftops of nearby buildings.

The master bedroom (23m2, 230 sq. ft.), at the end of a corridor, has a king-sized bed in a wood frame, large armoire, an antique chest of drawers with black marble top, and a non-working fireplace superimposed by a gilded mirror. The adjacent full bath with jacuzzi is finished in marble.

The second bedroom (16.7m2, 180 sq. ft.) also has a combination desk and chest of drawers, and a king-sized bed that can be separated to two twin beds. Another full bath, also boasting a jacuzzi tub, is just across the hall. Both bedrooms have bedside tables with good reading lamps.

The study (15m2, about 155 sq.'), which has a sofa, pretty oriental rug and a non-working marble fireplace, is a comfortable room for reading, or for setting up a laptop computer at the large wooden desk. For that purpose there are additional electrical outlets at the desk, as well as a wireless high-speed internet connection.

Each of the bathrooms is brilliantly illuminated with recessed lighting, and fitted with heated towel racks and fine chrome and brass fixtures. Both bathrooms have a bathtub with Jacuzzi jets, as well as a full-sized overhead shower. The Jacuzzi jets are controlled by a hand-held device that regulates the temperature and intensity of the water. The master bath has twin basins, and in the second bath there a washing machine and separate tumble dryer concealed behind a wood panel.

The apartment is furnished in a traditional style that combines antiques and tasteful contemporary pieces, soft colors and richly colored fabrics. The walls of the common rooms are a soft yellow, and the bedrooms a pale peach, all with white trim. The naturally warm ambiance of the rooms is enhanced by wainscoting in the living and dining rooms, molding around the high ceilings, newly refinished parquet floors throughout, illuminated wall sconces and recessed overhead spot lighting, and the three decorative fireplaces.

The galley-style kitchen is fitted with top-quality appliances, including a five-burner gas stove, large two-door refrigerator and in-wall conventional and microwave ovens. The countertops are a speckled beige polished granite, and the cabinetry is finished in cherry wood. A separate counter along one wall provides additional workspace, and can be used as a breakfast table. The kitchen is just across the foyer from the dining room, and receives natural light from a window overlooking the courtyard.

The boulevard du Montparnasse and its little side streets abound with excellent pâtisseries and bakeries, charcuteries, butchers, produce markets, pharmacies and other stores for daily needs, as well as cafés and restaurants of every stripe. Within a walk of three minutes or less of the apartment are two of our favorites: Chez Natacha, a lively bistro frequented by the fashion trade and La Closerie des Lilas, the classically Parisian café and restaurant celebrated by Hemingway in A Moveable Feast.